NI dentists 'extract Irish patients'

The majority of Irish clients seek more complex work

The rising cost of living in the Republic of Ireland has led to a growing number of people travelling to Northern Ireland for cheaper dental treatment, BBC News Online reports.

Ireland's Celtic Tiger economy has seen the country strike one of the fastest rates of growth in the world.

However, with that - and entry into the eurozone - has come rising living costs and rocketing prices in the commercial and business sectors.

One lucrative spin-off of this is that dentists in Northern Ireland are now catering for an influx of patients from south of the border seeking relatively inexpensive treatment.

They can save between 30-40% on the cost of exactly the same treatment and can also claim tax back from their own authorities.

While a patient in Dublin could be charged about 3,000 euros for an implant including a crown, the same procedure could be carried out in Northern Ireland for 2,000 euros.

Claudette Christie says advertising creates an unfairness

The majority of clients seek more complex work, including implants, root canal treatment, tooth whitening, crowns and surgical dentistry.

The phenomenon has led to discontent among dentists in the Republic.

Northern Ireland dentists are free to advertise in the Irish press, but their southern counterparts are forbidden from advertising their services.

Regular meetings

Claudette Christie, the director of the British Dental Association in Northern Ireland (BDA), says part of the reason for the divergence in costs between the two regions is that they are very different market places.

DENTAL FACTS NI is in the worst 10% for UK dental health 7,000 children have 30,000 teeth extracted each year There are about 700 dentists in Northern Ireland NI children have higher levels of treated and active tooth decay The incidence of oral cancer is increasing Just over 50% of the population is registered with a dentist Lower social-economic groups show less enthusiasm to register

"Historically, we have always had a publicly funded system at reduced cost in Northern Ireland. In the south of Ireland, that has never been the case - it has always been a private healthcare market for dentistry," she says.

"Cost has to be added into that - costs in the south of Ireland are much higher - staff costs, building costs, tax and VAT - the whole infrastructure of the dental practice is costly and therefore the treatment and the lab bills are more costly."

The BDA holds regular meetings with its counterpart in the south, the Irish Dental Association (IDA) and the issue of patients travelling north has been raised.

Ms Christie says the ability of Northern Ireland dentists to advertise in the south "creates an unfairness in the practice of dentistry which is not beneficial to southern dentists".

'Wholly private'

Dr Damian Flanagan, who runs the 03 Dental Studio in Ballymena in County Antrim, says about 50% of his patients came from the Republic of Ireland.

He puts this figure down to advertising and recommendations from satisfied clients.

"A lot of southern patients are looking for private standard treatment and we are offering a high-end private service," he says.

"Most of the practices in Northern Ireland are NHS-based with a private component, but I am wholly private.

"It is very important when looking at prices to compare like with like."

Dr Damian Flanagan says 50% of his patients come from the Republic

Having worked in the Republic, Dr Flanagan understands some of the costs faced by dentists there.

They are disadvantaged by higher prices for commercial property and staff.

The salary of a dental nurse in Dublin can be twice that of a nurse in Northern Ireland.

Paul Brennan, a dentist based in Strabane in County Tyrone, says for many of his patients coming from the Republic, cost was not a factor.

"For most it is a case of geography and proximity to the border. Many of my patients come because of a recommendation, or their parents came or they have a link with the area," he says.

While many patients from the Republic are entitled to free or subsidised dental treatment there, they prefer to pay for the treatment in Northern Ireland, says Dr Brennan.

He believes the ability of dentists in Northern Ireland to advertise their services in the Republic is unfair and has limited impact.

"If a dentist in the jurisdiction is not allowed to advertise, then we should not be allowed to advertise in the jurisdiction.

"We have never done that, and would never have any wish to do that."

An Irish Dental Association spokesman said: "It is impossible to compare accurately and fairly costs/fees between two different economies - be it for dental treatment, any other service or indeed goods.

"As you know, the IDA has consistently advised patients to ensure that when making comparisons they are made in the context of like with like."

He added: "Of course, the IDA prefers if business is kept within our own jurisdiction. This makes it easier to check out some important issues such as hygiene in the surgery, cross infection control procedures, emergency services available and whether the surgery is easy to access.

"That said, patients are of course free to choose whether to attend their local family dentist or any other properly qualified dentist in any other country."